A Quiet session

Plenty of nothingness this morning. Soil Hill was almost unadulterated by bird life and Ogden just as bad. 1 each Kestrel, WW, Whitethroat & Swallow on the hill.

Ogden water just held a BHG with one LBBG upstairs. The E shore had a single Oystercatcher loafing around (Moisture Catching?). Song Thrush & WW.

The Buzzard pr were above Mixenden Res with a few of the 9 LBBG present escorting them.

Soil Hill etc etc

Grasshopper Warbler still reeling from same area as previously reported on the hill. Also a pr Swift, few Swallow, 3/4 'throats & 4 WW. Goldfinches, Larks etc.

Ogden Res: 1 each Grey Heron, GC Grebe & LBBG.

1 Jay ditto Nuthatch & Bullfinch. 5 WW & 2 Blackcap singing.

The Golf course coughed up 1 singing Song Thrush & an excited GSW. House Martin duo ditto Reed Bunting.

It then fizzled out rapidly: distant Buzzard heard ditto GSW. Reed Bunting, 1 Moorhen with a single chick & 5 LBBG on Mixenden Res.

Soil Hill to Mixenden Res

Overall not very much action but there were 3 intervals of interest.

A ginormous male Peacock was in the middle of Persecution Rd so I ensured it didn't attack any vehicles and took a couple of shots with the mobile bone when it went nearer home.

A Grasshopper Warbler reeled a few times from undergrowth above the Ned Hill track. Also a few Skylark, Meadow Pipit plus a couple Swallow & Pied Wagtail.

Ogden Res had 1 each drake Tufted Duck & Grey Heron plus a pr GC Grebe. Just 1 each Blackcap & WW heard.

The golf course stretch to Hunter Hill was just exercise but then it picked up.

A pr Buzzard were towing a Crow along in their slipstream.

Mixenden Res sported 3 BHG, 7 LBBG & 1 Common Sandpiper flushed unintentionally by a passing family.

Soil Hill to Mixenden

Soil Hill: 1 WW calling and being answered by a fledgling. 1 Kestrel ditto Swift, Linnet & singing Skylark. Couple Swallow & Chaffinch, few Goldfinch, 2 Blackbird.

Surprised to find this beauty on top of Soil Hell

Ogden Res: 1 Grey Heron and a GC Grebe. Only Gull was a BHG still fully summered up. 1 GSW same count for Chiffchaff & WW. 2 Blackcap.

The golf course to Mixenden proved interesting. Pr Buzzard, 1 each Whitethroat, Reed Bunting & WW. Couple Linnet & Swift. 1 Green Woodpecker.

A single LBBG dropped in for a drink then scarpered. 1 each Blackcap, Chiffchaff & WW. A nearby GSW called.

Despite the missing section this could still flutter bye.

This flutterillary species posed, revealing that the bottom section of the RH wing has been gnawed off.

Blackstone Edge and Whiteholme

A strong cool NE'ly wind was scouring the area with only parts of Blackstone Res having any shelter. This would account for a few Swallows & Swifts being present here only.

8 rather noisy Dunlin were feeding on one shoreline in misty conditions which eventually cleared. 3 Common Sandpiper were flying around excitedly around another area at the hikes termination.

Whiteholme Res was really exposed and at times it was difficult to focus the optics.

3 Oystercatcher & 5 Common Sandpiper including recently fledged young.

2 large gulls over > W one being an obvious LBB.

Also 2 Curlew, 1 Pied Wagtail, 5 Skylark & several Meadow Pipit.

Soil Hill to Mixenden Res

Quitest session for a long time birdwise with one exception at the end of the walk. Couple Pied Wagtail, 1 each Chaffinch & Goldfinch on the hill. 

Ogden Res sported 3 Greylag & 3 sub adult LBBG with a couple floating upstairs.

1 Grey Wagtail & a couple Reed Bunting by the golf course.

A Kestrel at Hunter Hill & a family of 5/6 MistleThrush flying around the track.

As I approached the entrance to Mixenden I saw something thrashing about in nettles next to a couple of parked cars. It was a Jackdaw adult so I picked it up. It could flap it's wings alright so I thought it may have been clipped slightly by a passing vehicle. I can vouch that it's ability to peck and attempt to swallow a finger or two was in no way impaired.

Photos were out of the question - the bird was too close! I placed it on the wall top and it flew about 30 yards to another wall. I slowly walked towards it and it flew a similar distance and landed in long grass so I legged it.

Just 1 GC Grebe and a Moorhen on Mixenden.

Sweltering Swillington Ings

A right slog this and there's no hills! I am now A Grey Heron fan for life. The bird pictured poked it's noggin into some reeds and flushed a pr Bearded Tit out into view. They only showed for 6/7 seconds but it'll do me.

Usual Cettis, Reed & Sedge Warblers including one of the latter that sang from the top of a bush.

Common Terns were very active but amazingly no Swift or Swallow seen. Usual water fowl in evidence.

I played a master stroke. Remembering the old adage that if you want a cracking bird display always put your camera back in the rucksack. I duly obliged and within a minute a Red Kite appeared by magic and circled low overhead a few times. A Buzzard did the same albeit not as close when walking in Great Preston.

"Why is that Man crying so much Mummy?" was uttered far too much for my liking from passing locals 😭.

Talking About Being Stung

No Birds today and since we appear to be ruled by insects I thought I'd pay tribute...

 

Bee Happy

Soil Hill to Mixenden Res

11 large gulls in a cluster above the Ned Hill conifers appeared to be all LBBG. 1 each Curlew & Whitethroat.

Swift were seen in singles and pairs throughout the walk.

There were 4 individual GSW calling in proximity in the trees at Ogden, methinks a family. 6 Moorhen seen included 2 fledgling in the plantation.

I heard 2 unconvincing loud Cuckoo calls. I'm positive this was a local doylem undergoing the ravages of Cerebral Amoebic Dysentery.

A couple of LBBG were alone on the water.

The golf course was quiet in the main. However it did produce evidence of breeding Reed Bunting as 2 separate males were carrying food. 2 singing Skylark present.

Mixenden Res had a GC Grebe and a Moorhen on it. The latter lost it's nest and contents to the wind and rain that occurred in May.

A pr House Martin were catching flies and insects over the water. 6 House Sparrow were also doing a flycatcher imitation with considerable success.

Cold Edge Circular Mixenden

Cold Edge Dams: 6 Tufted Duck, 2 WW ditto Lapwing & Curlew, 3/4 Meadow Pipit.

Overall an uneventful trek but I did get a site tick.

A bird Warbled thrice from the overgrown Garden of the dilapidated building. I don't find Sylvia in any shape or form Borin.

I traipsed around the hilly parts of Ogden to no avail apart from a calling Buzzard.

Just 2 LBBG & a BHG were on the water for a few minutes.

The golf course wasn't up to much: 1 WW, couple Meadow Pipit. Another Buzzard heard presumed to be the same bird.

Mixenden Res: 1 Herring Gull again briefly on the drink. Also 1 Jay. 1 Reed Bunting nearby.

An Eclipsed Gull Shot

 

Given the doldrum-days of bird-watching, it's nice to get one right where you wanted it!. Taken from the garden yesterday when there was a suitable gap in the clouds. Note to BB, Gull in Eclipse Plumage, perhaps? 

Denise

Good to see you made the eclipse cut Denise 😁

NK

Shiteholme and Shitehazzles

Shite. The former had 3 Oystercatcher & 1 Curlew plus a Pied Wagtail present. The latter had a Pied Wagtail.

I feel the W'ly wind had blown any small Waders away.

A rather agitated Wheatear was watched in a typical breeding environment whizzing around. There is a possibility of a pr being present but I can't say for certain

Also few Meadow Pipits and Skylarks.

Soil Hill to Nothing Doing

A typical June doldrums session with a couple of interesting spells.

Soil Hill: Kestrel, 1 each singing Blackcap, Whitethroat, WW & Greenfinch. A couple of Swallow & Linnet.

Ogden Res: 1 Herring Gull upstairs and a couple of LBBG on the drink.

Several walkers including myself were entertained by a pair Buzzard in noisy close up action overhead which was then prolonged at a more typical distance.

The golf course produced a pr of male Pheasant seemingly going through a territorial ritual while feeding. They certainly were engrossed and were not concerned about my presence.

Also a Whitethroat & WW.

I finally got 3/4 House Martin along with a pr of Swallow and a Swift or two around Stod Fold. Final bird here being a Reed Bunting before moving on to Nothing Doing.